Published 4:00 am, Friday, June 16, 1995

1995-06-16 04:00:00 PDT Sacramento -- The California Assembly has degenerated so much under the leadership of new Speaker Doris Allen that members could not even agree yesterday on how to quit for the week.

Just three days into Allen's reign, GOP lawmakers loyal to their leader, Jim Brulte, used yesterday's session to vent their spleen at Allen, the Republican renegade who was elected speaker last week with the backing of only Democrats.

Yesterday was the often- missed constitutional deadline for the Legislature to send a spending plan to the governor, but debate degenerated into a shouting match as furious Republicans demanded that the Assembly remain at work until the budget was passed.

GOP Assemblyman Brian Setencich of Fresno, presiding over the house for the first time, refused to listen. As a half dozen of his fellow Republicans yelled at him, demanding to speak, he stalked away from the rostrum, muttering "Jeez" in frustration.

"I thought he did an excellent job," said Allen of Setencich's handling of the scene.

But for the second time this week, Republicans opposed to Allen failed to unseat or embarrass her significantly.

Allen stole some of their thunder by quickly amending Governor Wilson's 15 percent tax cut proposal into a bill, an effort to prove her commitment to the GOP agenda.

Wilson's tax cut would decrease personal income tax and bank and corporate taxes by 15 percent -- 5 percent each year for three years. It would result in a loss of some $7.5 billion in revenue to the state.

But even Allen's attempt to amend the bill was criticized.

Assemblyman Fred Aguiar, an Ontario Republican who authored the original bill, asked for time to review her amendments. Allen plunged on ahead. Aguiar again asked for a five-minute recess. Allen finally gave him one.

After the recess, Brulte spoke in favor of the tax cut.

"California is not competitive," he said. "At a time where we need to be competitive internationally, we are not competitive nationally."

Assemblywoman Juanita MacDonald, the Carson Democrat whose committee initially defeated the tax cut plan, said the state cannot afford to reduce the revenue it takes in.

"There is a $1.9 billion budget gap that we have right now," she said. "Can we afford this tax cut proposal? I say no."

Willie Brown politely spoke against the tax cut but praised Allen for having the "good judgment to attempt to move the governor's program."

But the amendments were approved with Allen and her fellow Republicans voting in favor and Democrats voting against.

Then Brulte tried to bring up the Assembly version of the budget for debate. Setencich tried to let Allen make one more amendment to Aguiar's bill -- an amendment changing the author from Aguiar to Allen.

Republicans erupted, shouting at Setencich and demanding the chance to speak. "I got to tell you guys," Setencich said, "it's tough to be up here."

Then Assemblyman Curt Pringle, R-Garden Grove, said the bill should be amended to make Brulte the official author. Allen ultimately agreed to the change.

Brulte tried to bring up the budget again and failed. Then Allen tried to adjourn the session.

Assemblyman Jim Rogan, R- Glendale, argued that it was inadvisable for the Assembly to adjourn since it had passed no budget.

When it became clear that Setencich planned to adjourn the session, Republicans demanded a roll call vote, a formality not often employed for something as routine as adjournment.